Schiff Refuses To Let Republican Rep. Stefanik Talk During Impeachment Hearing

Watch the full clip of Schiff's refusal to allow the congresswoman to speak here on Youtube:

As Rep. Elise Stefanik pointed out, this is not the first - but the FIFTH - time Adam Schiff has silenced questioning from Republicans.

Here's what Rep. Elise Stefanik had to say about how she was treated by Adam Schiff during the hearing on Twitter:

Fellow Republican Rep. Andy Biggs encouraged Stefanik to "keep asking those questions" bringing attention to her being silenced by Schiff on his own Twitter page, as well:

Robby Starbuck also made an excellent point:

Fox News has more to say about what went on:

Elsewhere in the hearing, tensions between lawmakers boiled over when Schiff repeatedly shut down GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., citing House procedure -- as an astonished Nunes accused him of "gagging" the lawmaker.

"This is the fifth time you have interrupted a duly-elected member of Congress," Stefanik told Schiff, who repeatedly told her she was "not recognized" to speak.

The moment began when Nunes yielded the remainder of his allotted time for questions to Stefanik, who had sparred multiple times with Schiff during both days of hearings.

But as Stefanik spoke, Schiff slammed down the gavel: "The gentlewoman will suspend."

"What is the interruption for now?" she shot back.

What followed was a debate between Nunes and Schiff as to whether the Republican could offer his time to a fellow member of Congress, rather than minority counsel. Stefanik repeatedly tried to speak, only for Schiff to bang his gavel again.

"You're gagging the member from New York?" Nunes laughed at one point.It was one of a number of clashes over the hearing's procedure. Before the testimony began Friday, Schiff shut down Stefanik for the first time after Stefanik asked if he would “continue to prohibit witnesses from answering Republican questions.” Schiff said it wasn’t a “proper” point of order, and then declined to recognize Jordan, who also tried to raise a parliamentary question.

The Daily Wire added:

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) faced intense criticism on Friday for repeatedly interrupting and refusing to let Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik speak during the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry hearing of former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch.

During the hearing, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) yielded his time to Stefanik who started to question Yovanovitch before being cut off by Schiff.

Here is the following exchange between Schiff, Nunes, and Stefanik:

Nunes: I know Ms. Stefanik you had a few quick questions for the ambassador.  I yield to you Ms. Stefanik.

Stefanik: Thank you, Mr. Nunes. Ambassador Yovanovitch–

Schiff: The gentlewoman will suspend. The gentlewoman will suspend.

Stefanik: What is the interruption for this time?

Schiff: The gentlewoman will suspend, you’re not recognized. Mr. Nunes–

Nunes: I just recognized Ms. Stefanik.

Schiff: Under the House Res. 660 you are not allowed to yield time except to counsel.

Stefanik: The ranking member to another member of Congress.

Schiff: Nope, nope. That is not accurate.

Nunes: You’re gagging the gentlewoman from New York?

Stefank: That is accurate. Ambassador Yovanovitch I want to thank you for being here today–

Schiff: The gentlewoman will suspend, you’re not recognized.

Stefanik: This is the fifth time that you have elected members of Congress, duly-elected members of Congress–

Schiff: The gentlewoman will suspend.

Nunes: Mr. Chair, we control the time and customary to this committee, who ever controls the time can yield to whoever they wish. If we have members of Congress who have a few questions, it seems appropriate that we would let Ms. Stefanik ask her question.

Schiff: Mr. Nunes, you or minority counsel are recognized.

Stefanik tweeted out a video clip of the incident, writing: “Once again, Adam Schiff flat out REFUSES to let duly elected Members of Congress ask questions to the witness, simply because we are Republicans. His behavior is unacceptable and he continues to abuse his Chairmanship.”

WATCH:

Once again, Adam Schiff flat out REFUSES to let duly elected Members of Congress ask questions to the witness, simply because we are Republicans. His behavior is unacceptable and he continues to abuse his Chairmanship. Watch 📺👇 pic.twitter.com/qm9Uj8tiHO

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) November 15, 2019

Earlier in the hearing, Stefanik tweeted out another instance in which Schiff again interrupted her, writing: “How many times can Adam Schiff say “the Gentlewoman is NOT recognized”? He clearly has NO interest in letting Republicans have any say in the impeachment hearings. Watch him interrupt us multiple times and refuse to yield for our parliamentary questions”

Townhall also commented on the matter:

During the second half of questioning at Friday's impeachment inquiry hearing on Capitol Hill, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff shut down questioning of former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch from Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. Schiff did so after Ranking Member Devin Nunes yielded his time to Stefanik. 

"The gentlewoman will suspend," Schiff asked. 

"What is the interruption for this time?" Stefanik asked. "This is the fifth time you've interrupted duly elected members of Congress."

"You're gagging the gentle lady from New York?" Nunes asked. "Mr. Chair, we control the time. It's been customary in this Committee that whoever controls the time can yield to whoever they wish. It seems appropriate that we let Ms. Stefanik ask her question."